Orange County Aquatics Wins Third Straight Title

Considering Orange County Aquatics’ history, it wasn’t a big surprise that it won the 18-and-under division at the boys’ water polo Junior Olympics tournament last week in San Jose.

It was the third consecutive 18-and-under title for ORCA and Coach David Kasa’s second consecutive title.

But that’s small potatoes compared to the five consecutive Junior Olympics championships enjoyed by ORCA’s Nick Pacelli.

“It feels great no matter how many times you win,” Pacelli said.

Pacelli, a former Villa Park standout who will be a freshman at UCLA, scored the game-winning goal in the final, an 8-7 victory over San Diego Shores.

Pacelli’s skip shot to the upper-right corner of the cage converted a six-on-five with 1:12 remaining to break a 7-7 tie. But the tournament MVP credited his teammates for the championship charge.

“This was the biggest all-around team effort of those championships,” Pacelli said. “Everyone stepped up big.”

That includes goalie Lance Onken, who graduated last spring from Esperanza. He had eight saves in the final, including a stop on a four-meter penalty shot to preserve a 6-6 tie with four minutes remaining.

Former Katella standout Jeff Pratt scored twice in the final. Scott Butler (Canyon High) and Kevin Becker (Newport Harbor) each scored twice in the semifinals, a 7-4 victory over Stanford.

MORE CHAMPIONS

Trabuco Aquatics Program, with a roster resembling an Orange County all-star team, won the girls’ water polo Junior Olympics tournament last week, defeating SoCAL in the final, 6-4.

TRAP’s roster included four first-team Times all-county selections: Capistrano Valley’s Ashley Stachowski, who will be a freshman at UCLA; Villa Park’s Kristyn Pulver, Rosary’s Natalie Golda and Irvine’s Nicole Huszcz.

Pulver scored twice and Amber Stachowski, Ashley’s younger sister who will be a junior at Capistrano Valley, also scored twice, including a goal with 3:38 remaining to give TRAP a 6-3 lead.

TRAP also won the 14-and-under championship, defeating SoCAL in the final, 5-4, in overtime. Brittany Hayes, who will be a freshman at Foothill, scored two goals, including the game-winner with 34 seconds remaining in overtime.

SOCCER HEROICS

Lauren Orlandos, the Times’ Player of the Year in girls’ soccer last season, scored the game-winning goal in overtime in a 2-1 victory over Norway in the final, helping the U.S. under-21 team win the Nordic Cup Aug. 8 in Reykjavik, Iceland.

Orlandos, from El Toro High, will be a freshman defender at Portland this fall. She scored six minutes into overtime off an assist from Michelle French.

BOYS OF SUMMER

Joey Boshnack (Irvine), Brandon Kurtz (Corona del Mar), Jack Rubin (Foothill), Matthew Silverstein (Foothill), Morgan Surfas (Foothill), Matt Warsaw (Corona del Mar) and Brian Wasserman (Aliso Niguel) are members of the Orange County youth baseball team that begins play Friday at the United States Macabbia Games in Cherry Hill, N.J.

This is the first time Orange County has fielded a baseball team to participate in the annual event for Jewish athletes, according to Coach Steven Silverstein.

REFEREES SOUGHT

The Southern Section is looking for referees. Here’s a list of who to contact for information on classes:

Baseball--Frank Lerner, (714) 744-1440; Basketball (North Orange County)--Rich Kollen, (562) 926-7598; Basketball (South Orange County)--Frank Lerner, (714) 744-1440; Football--Bill Hudson, (714) 828-5257; Gymnastics--Tina Preston, (714) 558-3292; Soccer--Al Padilla, (714) 962-6367; Softball--Ed Staab, (714) 998-4029; Swimming--Karen Vandervoet, (562) 596-9344; Track and Field--Bob Baker, (714) 645-4742; Volleyball--Eunetta Pickett, (714) 546-3870; Water polo--Nick Baba, (562) 938-4240; Wrestling--Dick Morris, (949) 548-1907.

For further information, contact the Southern Section office in Cerritos at (562) 860-2414.

Staff writer Paul McLeod contributed to this story.